How to Prepare for the CCIE Security Written Exam Using This Book and CDROM

The chapters open by identifying the exam blueprint topics covered in that chapter. You can begin by taking the "Do I Know This Already?" quiz to immediately evaluate how familiar you are with the chapter's subjects. Use the quiz instructions in each chapter to decide how to proceed. If you feel unfamiliar with the material and you need to learn a lot about the topics, start by reading the "Foundation Topics" section, which goes into detail about the objectives covered in that chapter. If your quiz results demonstrate that you already have a strong grasp of the subjects, you can skim certain topics in the chapter and then move on to the "Foundation Summary," "Q & A," and "Scenarios" sections at the end of the chapter. If you feel comfortable with your results after working through these sections, move on to the next chapter or use the CD-ROM to practice the topics. If you are consistently identifying areas that you have trouble with, study those topics more and then assess yourself again.

This book covers all the objectives in the CCIE Security written exam blueprint, but no one book can teach you everything you need to know for a CCIE exam. Although you can use this book to identify and fill in knowledge gaps, you might encounter areas where you feel less prepared than others. Consider supplementing your learning in these areas with practical experience, specific books on the subject, or by searching the topic at Cisco.com.

In addition to the chapters in this book, the accompanying CD-ROM provides tools that can help you prepare for the exam. The CD-ROM includes over 500 sample questions that you can explore in different modes. You can work through the questions in practice mode so that you can learn as you go or you can assess your preparedness in test mode. Practice mode allows you to link to an electronic version of the book when you want more information on the particular topic covered in the question. In practice mode, you can choose the topics and number of questions you want to work through. Test mode simulates the exact conditions in the CCIE Security certification exam, where you are presented with 100 difficult questions and asked to attain a pass score of 80 percent within 2 hours.

At the end of a CD-ROM practice exam, you receive a score and a categorical breakdown of your performance. Use these results to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses, so you can use this book and other resources to fill in any knowledge gaps.

Using this book is one of the best steps you can take toward achieving one of the most sought-after certifications in the IT industry. You need to rely on your extensive experience to pass the exam, but this book can make your preparation focused and efficient. Do not give up, and keep studying until you become certified.